Israel-Hezbollah War: US Truce Proposal and Ceasefire Efforts
Smoke and flames erupt from a building hit by an Israeli airstrike in Tayouneh, Beirut. (AP pic)
Lebanese officials are reviewing a US truce proposal in the Israel-Hezbollah war, as Hamas says it is ready for a ceasefire on Israel’s other front in Gaza.
US Truce Proposal
A top government official in Beirut, requesting anonymity to discuss sensitive matters, said US ambassador Lisa Johnson discussed with senior Lebanese officials on Thursday a 13-point proposal. The proposal includes a 60-day truce, during which Lebanon will redeploy troops to the border. The official added that Israel has yet to respond to the plan.
Ceasefire Efforts
Ceasefire efforts spearheaded by the US and France have so far failed to halt the hostilities, which Lebanon says have killed more than 3,440 people since October last year. Israel says it wants tens of thousands of its citizens, displaced since the firing began more than a year ago, back home safely.
Hamas Ready for Ceasefire
A senior Hamas official said Friday the group is "ready for a ceasefire" in Gaza, urging US president-elect Donald Trump to "pressure" Israel. The appeal came nearly a week after Qatar, which hosts much of the Palestinian group’s political bureau, suspended its mediator role until the warring parties show "willingness and seriousness".
Aid Looting
The war erupted with Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel which resulted in 1,206 deaths, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures. Israel’s retaliatory campaign has killed 43,764 people in Gaza, most of them civilians, according to figures from the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry that the United Nations considers reliable.
Rockets Stockpile
Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported a "heavy raid carried out by aircraft of the Israeli enemy" in the Ghobeiri area of southern Beirut, after two missile strikes on the same target by an Israeli drone. Israel has pounded south Beirut for almost two months, killing Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah there in late September.
Casualties
Among the latest casualties in Lebanon were 14 members of the main civil defence facility in the eastern Baalbek area killed in an Israeli strike on Thursday, said Samir Chakia, a local official with the agency. "My dad was sleeping here with them," said Suzanne Karkaba, herself a rescuer. "Now it’s my turn to pick up the pieces of my dad," she said with tears in her eyes.
Conclusion
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has resulted in devastating losses on both sides, with civilians bearing the brunt of the violence. The US truce proposal and ceasefire efforts by the US and France offer a glimmer of hope for a resolution to the conflict, but the path forward remains uncertain.
FAQs
Q: What is the US truce proposal?
A: The US truce proposal includes a 60-day truce, during which Lebanon will redeploy troops to the border.
Q: Is Hamas ready for a ceasefire?
A: Yes, a senior Hamas official has said the group is "ready for a ceasefire" in Gaza, urging US president-elect Donald Trump to "pressure" Israel.
Q: How many people have been killed in the conflict?
A: According to Lebanese officials, more than 3,440 people have been killed since October last year. According to figures from the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry, 43,764 people have been killed in Gaza.
Q: What is the current situation in Gaza?
A: Aid entering Gaza has fallen to an all-time low, and looting is an ongoing issue made easier by Israel’s military targeting of local police who would otherwise be able to prevent it.